Hi, my name is Mark, its been 9 days since I urinated in a fish tank.
Being a doc type, I'm aware of the nitrogen cycle and aware that urine has an ideal profile suited to the purpose.
So, beginning with my IM10 tank I experimented with adding urine at roughly 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 10 gallons. The tank cycled in record time. In just under 8 days I had clear readings. They remained clear for 2 weeks. I then added livestock with no concerns since.
So, I'm running an experiment with a 25g IM.
March 1st
Added 20# of base rock and 6# of live rock.
Bare bottom.
I added 1 week used filter media from the basket of my IM10 to the basket of the IM25.
I added 60ml of Special Blend in high flow area.
March 2nd
I added 1 cup (8oz.) of urine, mine, to the tank
March 3rd
I added 30ml of Special Blend.
March 4th
I added 1/2 cup (4oz.) of urine, from a hobo
March 5th
Ammonia: 4
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 80
March 8th
Ammonia: 2
Nitrite 5
Nitrate: 130
March 9
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 2.5
Nitrate: 50
March 11
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 5
March 13
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 2.5
Note the tank has very high flow with considerable surface disruption causing approximately a quart of evaporation per day.
This matches, to an extent, the results I had with the 10g. Keeping in mind, of course, that many smaller systems cycle quickly, this still seems like quite a complete cycle in a considerably short time.
Currently sterilizing all non-biological equipment and will repeat readings tomorrow, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Being a doc type, I'm aware of the nitrogen cycle and aware that urine has an ideal profile suited to the purpose.
So, beginning with my IM10 tank I experimented with adding urine at roughly 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 10 gallons. The tank cycled in record time. In just under 8 days I had clear readings. They remained clear for 2 weeks. I then added livestock with no concerns since.
So, I'm running an experiment with a 25g IM.
March 1st
Added 20# of base rock and 6# of live rock.
Bare bottom.
I added 1 week used filter media from the basket of my IM10 to the basket of the IM25.
I added 60ml of Special Blend in high flow area.
March 2nd
I added 1 cup (8oz.) of urine, mine, to the tank
March 3rd
I added 30ml of Special Blend.
March 4th
I added 1/2 cup (4oz.) of urine, from a hobo
March 5th
Ammonia: 4
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 80
March 8th
Ammonia: 2
Nitrite 5
Nitrate: 130
March 9
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 2.5
Nitrate: 50
March 11
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 5
March 13
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 2.5
Note the tank has very high flow with considerable surface disruption causing approximately a quart of evaporation per day.
This matches, to an extent, the results I had with the 10g. Keeping in mind, of course, that many smaller systems cycle quickly, this still seems like quite a complete cycle in a considerably short time.
Currently sterilizing all non-biological equipment and will repeat readings tomorrow, Wednesday, and Saturday.
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just kidding keep the pics to yourself.